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Chapter 46: The Art of Pretending
🕑 Added 2025-03-17 12:54:10 +0000 UTCAs the saying goes, "Clothes make the man, gold makes the Buddha." As long as he played his part well, Chen Xiao was confident that he could pass as a cultivator, even without a spiritual root. Back when he posed as a feng shui master under his master's name, he had successfully deceived many. Of course, his confidence came from his master standing behind him and his own acquired knowledge. Now, with similar circumstances, he quickly came up with a plan.
He had Du Rong walk ahead while he followed behind, playing the role of an apprentice. In truth, he didn’t even need to act. With his identity token, he was a legitimate temporary disciple. Besides, it wasn’t as if people carried spiritual root-testing artifacts around just to check every stranger’s aptitude.
Du Rong, a man from the countryside, initially felt uneasy walking through a street filled with cultivators. But the moment Chen Xiao positioned himself behind him, a sense of responsibility quickly overcame his nervousness. He straightened his back, squared his shoulders, and kept his gaze steady. As someone who had survived life-or-death struggles, he exuded an undeniable air of competence. The honed, blade-sharp aura surrounding him was something every cultivator here recognized. Blending into the crowd of practitioners, he no longer stood out.
Before long, Du Rong’s shoulders relaxed. While Hanshan City was full of cultivators, its strict regulations prevented fights from breaking out over minor disputes. As long as no one made a move, walking through the city with an employer was relatively safe.
The two soon arrived at a pawnshop named Taixiang. Located at the heart of the street, its prime location was evident. The storefront was massive, with three wide doors open to welcome customers.
Inside, the shop was bustling. Some were there to pawn items, others to reclaim them, but most were browsing under the guidance of shop assistants, selecting items that had been forfeited.
Du Rong wasn’t exaggerating when he said this place had everything. Hanshan City was teeming with cultivators, and with the frequent task postings from Zhishi Hall, many practitioners offloaded their unused items here. Rather than letting old gear go to waste or struggling to sell it at low prices, they simply pawned them for some quick spirit coins. Even traveling immortal masters passing through Hanshan City often left behind unwanted items in exchange for money. As a result, the pawnshop always had a plentiful supply.
What was interesting about Taixiang Pawnshop was that, despite its vast inventory, it didn’t open a separate general store. Instead, it set up several towering shelves right in the main hall, packed with all sorts of second-hand items. Some were visibly aged but still functional. This setup created a treasure-hunting atmosphere that appealed to less affluent cultivators, drawing in a constant stream of customers and making the shop lively and bustling.
Discreetly shielding Chen Xiao, Du Rong guided him to the shelves. Chen Xiao scanned the assortment of goods, noticing faint spiritual fluctuations among many of them. He began sorting through the items, but most turned out to be insignificant trinkets, none as valuable as the jade pendant he had bought before.
Realizing he wouldn’t be able to find any hidden treasures here, he concealed his disappointment. It made sense, if the shopkeeper lacked the ability to appraise goods properly, they wouldn’t be running a successful pawnshop in the first place.
Adjusting his mindset, Chen Xiao moved to the equipment section and carefully examined the selections. As he browsed, he casually told Du Rong, "Uncle Rong, don’t look down on second-hand equipment. Only gear that has been tested through trials and hardships proves its durability and practicality."
Du Rong’s voice carried a hint of excitement. "Master, you don’t need to convince me. I understand." In Daiguo, he had never even seen such gear before. Normally, Foundation Establishment cultivators would pass down their old equipment to close friends and family, it was rare to find such items on the market.
The racks displayed both complete sets and individual pieces. Chen Xiao instructed Du Rong to pick out the gear he needed first, then he would make the final selection. Though puzzled, Du Rong obeyed, choosing two different chest plates and some scattered accessories. The two chest plates were made from different materials and inscribed with distinct runes, one enhanced speed, the other increased strength. Among the accessories, some reinforced defense, while others boosted explosive power.
Du Rong explained in a low voice, "This one focuses on speed, while this one emphasizes strength."
Chen Xiao asked humbly, "Which one is more useful to you?"
After a moment of thought, Du Rong replied, "They’re about the same. I have dual wind and earth spiritual roots. Wind-attribute techniques make my body lighter and increase my speed, while earth-attribute techniques strengthen my muscles and enhance my power." At the Body Refinement stage, cultivators primarily enhanced their physical attributes. Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage could they start learning spells.
Chen Xiao concentrated and used his ability to observe auras. The strength-enhancing armor had a clearer and more intact energy field. Based on this, he recommended that Du Rong choose the strength-focused chest plate and a defensive wrist guard from the scattered items.
At the counter, Chen Xiao finally realized the advantage of his ability to perceive auras, it gave him an edge in a pawnshop setting. Both the speed and strength chest plates were priced the same, at 150 spirit coins each. However, the strength armor had much less damage to its runes compared to the speed armor. In other words, for the same price, he could choose the item with the best value. This discovery reassured him, he wouldn’t have to worry about being shortchanged when buying such items in the future.
Beyond the minor rune damage, another reason for choosing the strength armor was that it was an outer chest plate. Made from lightweight leather, it was processed to be as flexible as possible, but wearing it directly against the skin would still be uncomfortable. It was meant to be worn over clothing, earning its name as outer armor. The speed armor, on the other hand, was an inner chest plate made from thick fabric, adorned with silver runes that looked impressive but remained inconspicuous when worn under clothing.
Chen Xiao had Du Rong put on the outer armor and wrist guard immediately. Du Rong was already a man of strong presence, but once equipped, his aura became even more imposing and battle-ready. Chen Xiao was highly satisfied with the result; appearance, demeanor, and gear were all in place.
Circling Du Rong, he still felt something was missing. Observing the other cultivators in the pawnshop, he suddenly realized, Du Rong lacked a weapon.
While the pawnshop offered affordable armor, rune-engraved weapons were exorbitantly priced. Rather than wasting time asking for details, the two left and headed to a weapons shop instead. There, for three spirit coins, they purchased an economical yet sturdy steel blade, the standard weapon for Daiguo cultivators. When Du Rong first set out as a bodyguard, he had planned to save up and buy exactly this type of weapon.
Du Rong fastened the steel blade to his waist, sighing, “A standard steel blade like this would cost five spirit coins in Dai Country. I never expected it to be so cheap in Hanshan City.”
Though the craftsmanship was the same, Hanshan City had far more artisans catering to cultivators, naturally driving prices lower.
Armor cost one hundred and fifty spirit coins, bracers fifty, and a steel blade three. In just half a day, his spirit coins had drained away like running water, all exchanged for the gear now worn on his body or hanging at his waist. The weight of the purchases sat heavy in his stomach, as if he had swallowed a stone.
“Master, what’s next?” Du Rong was eager to do something for Chen Xiao, at the very least, to prove himself worthy of this new equipment.
“No rush,” Chen Xiao said, the corners of his lips lifting in a smile. “The real battle starts now.”
The next morning, the snow had cleared, revealing a bright sky, but the air was even colder. Stepping out of his room, Chen Xiao shivered as the chill seeped into his bones.
Following behind, Du Rong frowned. “Master, you should wear something warmer.”
Chen Xiao was dressed in a newly tailored cloud-pattern brocade spring robe. The blue-white long coat accentuated his striking features—thick brows, almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, and full lips—making him appear even more vibrant and youthful. However, Du Rong couldn’t understand why his employer, who was clearly sensitive to the cold, insisted on wearing spring attire right after a snowfall.
Chen Xiao sucked in a trembling breath of icy air, feeling the chill seep through his entire body. He resisted the urge to curl up for warmth, forcing himself to adjust. Through chattering teeth, he said, “Have you ever seen a cultivator bundled up like a walking cotton ball? They all wear a single thin outer robe, don’t they? I even have a lined layer underneath, don’t worry, I’ll be fine!”
Isn’t this just self-inflicted suffering? Du Rong sighed. “But isn’t it a bit extreme to freeze yourself just to look the part?”
Chen Xiao’s tone was firm. “One mistake leads to another. A flaw this obvious isn’t an option.”
Du Rong couldn’t help but worry. No matter how fit and young Chen Xiao was, he still didn’t have a cultivator’s physical resilience. After a moment of thought, he suggested, “Master, I understand you’re aiming for the appearance of a noble-born cultivator, and paying attention to clothing details is important. But even disciples from aristocratic families don’t only wear a single layer outdoors. Many wear a luxurious cloak, not necessarily for warmth, but for the look. Your mink fur cloak would suit the image well.”
Chen Xiao was nearly frozen solid and to make things worse, he realized with horror that his nose had started to run. That was completely unacceptable! How could a noble cultivator’s son appear so undignified?
Moreover, if he stubbornly continued dressing like this, he might end up visibly unwell by the time they arrived at their destination. Not only would he fail to maintain his composure, but he might even look sickly. Forcing his sluggish brain to function, he found Du Rong’s suggestion reasonable. “Alright, I’ll wear the mink cloak.”
After enduring the cold for a while, he seemed to have somewhat acclimated. Adding only the mink cloak, he immediately felt much warmer.
Pulling it tightly around himself, he said, “That’s much better. I’ll keep it on while I’m outside and take it off once I’m indoors. That should be manageable.”
Du Rong still wasn’t sure about Chen Xiao’s plans, but seeing how much effort he put into preparation, he could tell it was something significant. Straightening his posture, he focused his energy, determined not to hold him back when the time came.
Thus, dressed in fine clothes and exuding the aura of a wealthy noble scion, with a formidable-looking bodyguard at his side, Chen Xiao appeared before the gates of a residence in Hanshan City.
Expressionless, Du Rong knocked on the door, then handed a letter to the gatekeeper. “Please deliver this to your master. Tell them a guest has come to visit.”
